Mike sat against the cold concrete wall while Kras smoked a cigarette, letting the smoke drift right under Mike's nose.
"Did it always smell like this here...?"
One year ago...
It was early morning, the beginning of spring. Mike had just arrived from the U.S. a few hours ago and now stood in front of the base entrance. The air was still chilly but refreshing. The soft sunlight, paired with the sound of birds chirping, painted a peaceful scene. Mike took a deep breath and muttered to himself:
"I hope this goes well."
He knocked gently on the door.
"Hello, it's me—Soldier A415."
The sound of a lock clicking open came from the other side before the door swung wide.
"Welcome. Come in, everyone's here. We're about to start."
The base was in better shape than he had expected. The meeting room was furnished with new desks, chairs, and a large blackboard. The scent of fresh paint lingered in the air.
Mike stepped inside. Including himself and the operations commander, there were eight people in total. He greeted them, receiving a mix of nods, subtle gestures, and muttered acknowledgments in return. One of them, who had been fiddling with a coffee machine in the corner, turned toward Mike. He had a distinct Spanish accent and, as he approached, threw an arm around Mike's shoulder.
"Hey! I'm Javier. Don't mind these grumpy faces—seems like no one here was ever taught basic manners."
Then he gestured toward his coffee machine with a smirk.
"Say, think you can fix this thing? My brain doesn't function without caffeine."
Commander Blake, visibly annoyed, shot Javier a stern look.
"Javier. Sit down."
Javier sighed, released Mike, and flopped onto a chair.
Seizing the moment, Mike placed his belongings inside one of the lockers. When he turned back, Commander Blake was preparing materials for the briefing. That's when he noticed Carlina—the only woman in the group. She moved with efficiency and grace, assisting Blake with a quiet focus. She was likely his second-in-command.
Clearing his throat, Blake addressed the room.
"I'm Commander Blake. I'm honored to lead this team, and now that everyone is here, we're officially starting the operation."
He placed his hand on the map pinned to the wall.
"You all know why we're here. Our mission is to monitor and, if necessary, neutralize Starovia's nuclear activities. Should higher authorities give the order, we will eliminate the threat. Javier will provide further details."
Javier straightened up, his usual playful demeanor gone. His face was serious, his voice sharp. The shift in his attitude took Mike by surprise—how could someone switch so drastically?
"Starovia's nuclear facilities are spread throughout the country. There are four major sites," Javier explained, pointing to the map.
"Three in the north, one in the south. The most crucial and heavily guarded facility is only ten kilometers from here."
He pulled out a stack of documents from a drawer, scattering them across the table.
"I've compiled maps and intel on each facility. Study them. Memorize them. I worked my ass off to get this information. This base will serve as our safe zone until we find a better location. For now, rest up. Further orders will come from the second-in-command."
Javier gathered the papers and locked them away.
The team dispersed. Mike was about to leave when Carlina approached with a warm, friendly smile.
"Hey, I'm Carlina. Which unit are you from?"
Mike met her gaze.
"Mike, HW3 unit. You're the second-in-command, right?"
"That's right. Now, come on—I'll introduce you to the rest."
She led him toward a man working on a computer.
"That's Karl, our tech specialist. He's brilliant, but he gets a bit jittery under pressure."
Karl, a young man around twenty-five, had light brown hair, neatly combed, and wore rectangular glasses.
Carlina pointed to another soldier, who was idly flipping a knife between his fingers.
"That's Drago. My advice? Don't mess with him too much—he's got a short fuse. But in combat, he's one of the best. Reliable and strong."
Drago's scarred face and piercing gaze were unsettling. Mike had a feeling they'd butt heads sooner or later.
"Do they have a problem with me?" Mike asked. "It feels like they're not too comfortable around me."
Carlina hopped onto a table's edge, swinging her legs slightly.
"No, it's not you. It's just... we lost someone last week. You're his replacement."
Mike frowned.
"You all knew each other before this mission?"
She nodded.
"Yeah... we've been working together for years. We've been through a lot. Lost a lot of people."
Mike exhaled and turned toward a door with his name on it. He pushed it open and leaned against the frame.
"I'm exhausted. Long flight. Let's talk later."
The scent of cigarette smoke pulled Mike back to the present.
"Mike, are you listening?"
It was Kras.
"We're waiting for you. Carlina and I are finalizing the operation plan."
He disappeared through the doorway. Mike braced himself against the ground and stood up, making his way outside.
He had to find Reznov.
He needed answers.
But was it worth putting Carlina in danger for the sake of his revenge? Against someone like Reznov?
Reznov wouldn't hesitate to kill Carlina if given the chance.
But if Mike didn't avenge Jake, he'd never forgive himself.
He caught his reflection in the dusty mirror.
"Tonight, I'm coming for you, Reznov. No matter what."